Violators will face 15 days in jail, a fine of SR10,000 for every passenger carried.

:: The General Directorate of Passports announced the formation of committees to implement punishments and issue administrative decisions against transporters of pilgrims who do not have a Hajj permit.

The committees will work around the clock and issue instant sanctions, the directorate said. First-time violators will face 15 days in jail, a fine of SR10,000 ($2,665) for every passenger carried, possible confiscation of the vehicle, and if the offender is an expat, deportation from the Kingdom and denial of re-entry.

If the violation is repeated a second time, the punishment will be two months in jail, a fine of SR25,000 ($6,664) for every passenger carried, possible confiscation of the vehicle, and if the offender is an expat, deportation from the Kingdom and denial of re-entry.

If the violation is repeated a third time, the punishment will be six months in jail, a fine of SR50,000 ($13,329) for every passenger carried, possible confiscation of the vehicle, and if the offender is an expat, deportation from the Kingdom and denial of re-entry.

The directorate called on all pilgrims to obtain Hajj permits to avoid punishment, and urged those coming from outside the Kingdom to respect the departure dates on their visas.

It also stressed the need for pilgrims from Gulf Cooperation Council member states to get their Hajj permits issued in their home country to avoid being sent back.

Sudanese pilgrims arrive

On Sunday, the General Presidency for the Grand Mosque in Makkah and Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah received the first batch of 1,400 Sudanese pilgrims at the Jeddah Islamic Port.

Officials of the Hajj and Umrah Department welcomed the pilgrims and presented them with Zamzam water and information manuals containing details about Hajj rituals.

25,000 to arrive from Yemen

The Saudi government has completed procedures to receive 25,000 Hajj pilgrims from Yemen this year, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

They are expected to start arriving in the Kingdom from Aug. 2, and will enter via Al-Wadiah land crossing, said Yemen’s Minister of Endowments and Guidance Ahmad Attiyah.

“We have completed arrangements for transportation, food, accommodations and visas,” he said.

“All that is left now is for Yemeni pilgrims to enter through Al-Wadiah crossing and then get grouped and transported to the holy sites,” he added.

“This year, some 25,000 Yemeni pilgrims will arrive from all parts of Yemen, whether under the control of the legitimate government or the Houthi militias.”

Attiyah thanked the Saudi government and the Saudi Embassy in Yemen. He urged all Yemeni pilgrims to focus on Hajj rituals and put political differences aside.

He also urged them to comply with the instructions of Saudi security authorities, and the directives of the Yemeni Ministry of Endowments and Guidance.